JAYA PETAL: Exercise is important for maintaining fitness and overall health and wellness, so why don’t Malaysians do it?
In the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 50.1% of the country’s adult population reported being overweight (30.4%) or obese (19.7%).
Similarly, the UK medical journal, the lancetpointed to Malaysia as the most obese country in Southeast Asia.
But despite the staggering numbers, why are some Malaysians still reluctant to exercise?
Life coach Suraya Kulop said that Malaysians are reluctant to exercise due to their busy lifestyle, especially as the nation approaches a post-Covid 19 recovery phase.
“Our habits are interrelated with our way of thinking. When we were in lockdown, we started exercising to motivate ourselves and occupy our time,” she said. Sun.
He said it would take up to 21 days of daily training to get into the habit of exercising.
“A simple exercise can mean a brisk 20-minute walk three or four times a week. Hormones like endorphins, which are produced in our brains, are released when we move and this can improve our mood, which is good for our overall health.”
Suraya said that another reason behind the reluctance to exercise is that it is not considered enjoyable.
Dietitian Reshmy Ranee echoed this sentiment. She said that most people don’t care much about their health, until they are faced with a certain illness.
“Most don’t care much about diabetes until they or someone close to them has the disease.
“There is a lack of information on how to manage diabetes and what foods (those affected) should avoid.”
Reshmy said companies have a responsibility to ensure their employees are healthy.
“There must be better ways to reach out to people other than holding health talks or producing brochures that are out of date.
“People should be encouraged to exercise.”
Reshmy advised people to get a blood test to determine if they are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
He cited a study published in 2020 in Penang, where it was found that 19.6% of those who were tested were diabetic and 10.12% were prediabetic.
“Once a person knows their blood work, they can seek help from other professionals, such as dietitians for meal planning and fitness trainers for exercise regimens.
“There are also certified diabetes educators who can teach diabetics how to manage their lives in terms of medications, exercise, and checking their feet for signs of injury.”
Reshmy said there’s a high probability that these prediabetics are already diabetic by now.
He also said it was vital that primary schools have a healthy eating curriculum.
“An estimated 1.65 million Malaysian schoolchildren will be overweight or obese by 2025.”
Former Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye had previously called on the government to allocate additional funds in the national budget to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Common NCDs include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers, as well as chronic respiratory diseases.
“We need to have more support for preventive health measures that include corporate entities.
“Some insurers have collaborations to raise awareness of the importance of health.
“Similarly, there is the Healthy Community Empowers the Nation program that provides awareness and knowledge to the community about NCD prevention.
“It has easy daily exercises that have a positive impact on health.”
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